Configuration Manager 2007 provides a rich set of features to help you manage resources across an enterprise. Use the following table to help you determine which features you need.

Feature Description

Internet-based client management

Internet-based client management allows you to manage Configuration Manager 2007 clients when they are not connected to your company network but have a standard Internet connection.

For more information about Internet-based client management in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Internet-Based Client Management.

Collections

Collections gather resources into logical, manageable groups in ways that best enable you to manage your Configuration Manager site.

For more information about collections in Configuration Manager 2007, see Collections in Configuration Manager.

Discovery

Discovery is a process that allows Configuration Manager 2007 to search your network for computers that can be managed as clients.

For more information about discovery in Configuration Manager 2007, see About Configuration Manager Discovery.

Inventory

Hardware inventory provides system information (such as available disk space, processor type, and operating system) about each computer. Software inventory provides information such as file types and versions present on client computers.

For more information about inventory, see Overview of Inventory.

Queries

Queries define and store the criteria for sets of database objects that you want to find. They can then be used to search the database for information about the objects that match the query criteria.

For more information about queries, see Queries in Configuration Manager.

Reporting

Reporting helps you to gather, organize, and present information about client computers and devices, site status, and other Configuration Manager operations in your organization.

For more information about reporting, see Reporting in Configuration Manager.

SQL Reporting Services

Applies only to Configuration Manager 2007 R2 or later.

SQL Reporting Services provides a set of tools and resources that help you use the advanced reporting capabilities of SQL Reporting Services from the Configuration Manager console.

For more information about SQL Reporting Services, see Overview of SQL Reporting Services.

Software distribution

Software distribution allows you to create packages and programs to install software and run scripts on clients.

For more information about software distribution, see Software Distribution Overview.

Software updates

Software updates provide a set of tools and resources that can help manage the complex task of tracking and applying software updates to client computers in an enterprise.

For more information about software updates in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Software Updates.

Software metering

Software metering allows you to collect detailed information about the programs that you choose to monitor. This includes program and usage information, such as user name, file description, start time, and end time.

For more information about software metering, see Software Metering in Configuration Manager.

Device management

Device management enables mobile device discovery and management for mobile devices running Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC and Smartphone platforms and Windows CE.

For more information about device management in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Mobile Device Management.

Operating system deployment

Operating system deployment enables you to create images that can be deployed to computers using bootable media such as CD set or DVD. The image, in a WIM format file, contains the desired version of a Windows operating system and can also include any line-of-business applications that need to be installed on the computer.

For more information about operating system deployment in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Operating System Deployment.

Task sequences

Task sequences provide the mechanism for performing multiple steps or tasks on a computer without requiring user intervention. Although task sequences do not represent a full scripting language, they do provide a simple building block approach for sequencing multiple tasks together at the command-line level.

For more information about task sequences in Configuration Manager 2007, see About Task Sequences.

Asset Intelligence

Asset Intelligence enhances the inventory capabilities of Configuration Manager to help manage software in use and software license management in the enterprise.

For more information about Asset Intelligence, see Overview of Asset Intelligence.

Desired configuration management

Desired configuration management allows you to assess the compliance of computers with regard to a number of configurations, such as whether the correct Windows operating system versions are installed and configured appropriately, whether all required applications are installed and configured correctly, whether optional applications are configured appropriately, and whether prohibited applications are installed. Additionally, you can check for compliance with software updates and security settings.

For more information about desired configuration management in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Desired Configuration Management.

Network Access Protection

Network Access Protection (NAP) works with health policies and network policies on a Network Policy Server, allowing you to select which software updates will be evaluated for compliance. The policies on the Network Policy Server then determine whether clients are granted full or limited network access and whether non-compliant clients are made compliant (remediated).

For more information about Network Access Protection in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Network Access Protection.

Wake On LAN

Wake On LAN can send wake-up transmissions prior to the configured deadline for a software update deployment or at the configured schedule of a mandatory advertisement (which can be for software distribution or a task sequence).

For more information about Wake On LAN in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Wake On LAN.

Remote tools

Remote tools allow you to remotely access and operate client computers that have the remote tools client agent components installed.

For more information about remote tools in Configuration Manager 2007, see Overview of Remote Tools.

Out of band management

Applies only to Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and later.

Out of band management allows you to manage desktop computers independently from the Configuration Manager client or the computer operating system. It requires computers that have the Intel vPro chip set and a version of Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) that is supported by Configuration Manager.

For more information about out of band management in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1, see Overview of Out of Band Management.

Client status reporting

Applies only to Configuration Manager 2007 R2 or later.

Client status reporting in Configuration Manager 2007 R2 provides up-to-date information on the status of client computers in a Configuration Manager 2007 hierarchy.

For more information about client status reporting in Configuration Manager 2007 R2, see Overview of Client Status Reporting.

Power management

Applies only to Configuration Manager 2007 R3.

Power management in Configuration Manager 2007 R3 provides a set of tools and resources that you can use to manage and monitor the power consumption of computers in the enterprise.

For more information about power management in Configuration Manager 2007 R3, see Overview of Power Management.

See Also